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Thomson Cruises returns to Liverpool 2014, offers adults only cruises

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 March 2013 26 March 2013

Thomson Cruises, which is part of the TUI Travel group, has announced the line up for summer 2014 sailings from the UK that include cruises from Liverpool for the first time for a few years for the company and adults-only cruises.

“Offering a fantastic range of unique itineraries which cover some exciting new ports of call including Spitsbergen in the Arctic Circle and Waterford on the Emerald Isle, Thomson Cruises offers a great range of holiday experiences for customers who prefer to travel direct from the UK. From May 2014, Thomson Spirit will sail from new UK port Liverpool and existing UK ports Harwich and Newcastle,” the company said in a statement.

For summer 2014 the Thomson Spirit visits the Norwegian Island of Spitsbergen in the Arctic Circle – the furthest north a Thomson Cruise has ever sailed. The 15 night Arctic Affair stops at Ny Alesun, Longyearbyen and also takes in many of the stunning ports found throughout the Norwegian Fjords including Geiranger, Alesund, and Flam, home to the world famous Flam Railway.

As an added bonus Thomson Cruises also has a great early booking incentive offering free parking or coach transfer and £100 free on board spending money.

Thomson Cruises offers a 15-night Arctic Affair cruise on board the Thomson Spirit from £1549 per person departing from Newcastle on the 12 July 2014.

For groups of friends and those who are new to cruising, Thomson Cruises Bank Holiday taster itineraries are the perfect option. Sailing from either Newcastle or Liverpool, the Experience Amsterdam and Highland Fling itineraries are a great city break alternative, combining all the luxury of a cruising experience with the excitement of visiting the vibrant cities of Edinburgh and Amsterdam. Team these trips with one of Thomson Cruises great range of shore excursions and customers will have a thrilling jam-packed weekend to remember.

Thomson Cruises offers a three-night Highland Fling cruise on board the Thomson Spirit from £429 per person departing from Liverpool on the 24 May 2014. It also offers a three-night Experience Amsterdam cruise on board the Thomson Spirit from £429 per person departing from Newcastle on the 23rd August 2014

New for summer 2014, Thomson Cruises will offer five new adult-only cruises. Itineraries include North Cape Discovery, Baltic Beauties, Wonders of the Fjords, Baltic Flavours and Mediterranean Explorer. Covering areas from the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea these adults-only cruises visit ports including St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Gibraltar and Tunis; providing destinations to suit a variety of interests.

Thomson Cruises offers an eight-night adults-only Wonders of the Fjords cruise on board the Thomson Spirit from £949 per person departing from Harwich on the 7 September 2014.

Fraser Ellacott, Managing Director for Thomson Cruises, said:“We are very excited about our summer 2014 UK programme as there really is an itinerary for everyone. We know that the destinations are key to customers, which is why we have introduced cruises to the Arctic Circle as well as keeping traditional cruising ports such as St Petersburg and Bergen in the programme. We are also delighted to be able to offer cruises from a third UK port, Liverpool, and hope that by getting the right mix, we will not only encourage our loyal customers to keep booking with us, but will also entice the younger generation and those who are new to cruise to try us out!”

Customers will be able to register their interest by heading to their nearest Thomson featuring travel shop to be sure they benefit from early booking incentives. The full summer 2014 summer programme will launch on the 25th April, with Thomson Cruises most varied ex-UK line-up to date going on sale on the 11th April.

SS United States Conservancy project needs $500,000 to prevent sale for scrap

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 26 March 2013 26 March 2013

Project with an aim to restore the 1952 built former Trans-Atlantic liner SS United States has launched a campaign to raise $500,000 to prevent the ship from being sold for scrap.

“If the SS United States Conservancy can’t secure $500,000 from new donors, corporate sponsors, and other supporters, America’s Flagship could be sold to scrappers within the next two months. The Conservancy urgently needs the funds to keep the ship in the water while promising redevelopment and museum discussions and plans continue to advance. The ship’s monthly maintenance, security costs and operational expenses are upwards of $80,000,” the Conservancy said in a statement.

“This is a four-alarm historic preservation crisis,” said Susan Gibbs, the Conservancy’s executive director, in a statement. “If this great American achievement is destroyed, we will lose an unparalleled opportunity to create jobs, honor our heritage, and celebrate technological innovation. With all the attention being given to plans for the Titanic II – a replica of an ocean liner famous for tragedy – we hope the American people and their political leaders will join us in saving the United States. Rather than build a reproduction of the Titanic in China, let’s repurpose the most famous ship that didn’t sink here at home before it’s too late.”

SS United States was built at Newport News in 1952 and on its first voyage in July of that year it captured the Blue Ribbon, title of the fastest liner in the Trans-Atlantic service, in both directions. The ship operated mainly on the Atlantic liner service, although it made some cruises too, until November 1969, when it was laid up. Several attempts emerged over the year to bring the ship back to service after refit and rebuilding, none of which materialised. The Conservancy aims to restore the ship and open it to the public as an attraction.

Royal Caribbean unveils 2014 Alaska cruises and tours programme

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 March 2013 25 March 2013

Royal Caribbean International have announced their 2014 Alaska cruise and cruisetour season, which will mark 25 years of delivering the Alaskan frontier on land and sea.

The recently revitalised Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas will return to Alaskan waters and offer 34 sailings on seven-night itineraries from Vancouver, British Columbia, and Seattle, Washington. On board, guests can enjoy up to 11 dining options, new and breathtaking entertainment, as well as family activities such as the award-winning Adventure Ocean kids and teen programme, and the new Royal Babies and Tots Nursery, catering to Royal Caribbean’s youngest guests, age six to 36 months old.

In ports of call, guests can choose from an extensive range of shore excursions to further explore the untamed Alaskan frontier. At Icy Strait Point examples include riding the world’s longest ZipRider zip line – 5,300 ft. long – that accelerates up to 60 miles an hour over a lush forest to the beach 1,300 ft. below. Or enjoy a dogsled team on Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter from Juneau. For the whole family, the Gold Rush Sled Dogs and White Pass Train Adventure in Skagway offers an exciting ride on the world-famous, narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad, followed by meeting a veteran Iditarod musher and his dogsled team with a chance to pet some pups, or the opportunity to go off-roading through Tongas National Park and canoeing in Lake Harriet Hunt on Backcountry Jeep & Canoe Safari from Ketchikan.

“Royal Caribbean International has been unfolding the wonders of the Alaskan frontier for a quarter of a century and we continue to deliver this amazing destination like no other cruise line,” said Lisa Bauer, executive vice president of Global Marketing and Sales, Royal Caribbean International. “Guests can explore this awe-inspiring destination while sailing aboard our recently revitalised ships that are truly ‘Designed for WOW’. To further immerse themselves, travellers also can choose an unforgettable Royal Caribbean Alaska cruisetour combining the best of land and sea in the region and without having to worry about any of the planning.”

In addition to witnessing the majesty of Alaska by ship, guests also can explore Alaska’s interior on a variety of exciting Royal Caribbean Cruisetours, which combine a sailing aboard Radiance of the Seas with a three- to six-night land tour adventure. Royal Caribbean International takes care of all the planning, transportation and accommodation on fully escorted tours that spend at least one night in Denali National Park and one leg on the Wilderness Express, a plush, glass-domed train cars that offer panoramic views of the grand Alaskan frontier.

A 10-night, family-friendly cruisetour will feature a three-night land tour that includes a behind-the-scenes visit to the Alaska Sea Life Center to learn about the region’s natural habitat and the centre’s wildlife rehabilitation and conservation efforts, and wildlife spotting in Denali National Park at the Murie Science and Learning Center.

Holidaymakers also can combine a Radiance of the Seas or Rhapsody of the Seas’ Alaska cruise with one of four pre- or post-cruise land tours throughout the Canadian Rockies and – new for 2014 – the Okanagan Wine Valley. For a comprehensive Alaska and the Canadian Rockies adventure, the Ultimate Cruisetour combines both region’s land tour programmes with a seven-night cruise aboard Radiance of the Seas for a 19-night grand adventure on land and sea.

Recently revitalised in 2011 and 2012, respectively, Radiance of the Seas and Rhapsody of the Seas now offer guests a range of new dining options, breathtaking entertainment, and contemporary features that live up to the cruise line’s Designed for WOW marketing platform. Each ship now features some of the most popular dining options and activities that were first introduced aboard the world’s largest and most revolutionary ships, Oasis of the Seasand Allure of the Seas.

New signature concepts aboard these ships include a new dance club experience in the modernised Viking Crown Lounge. On Rhapsody of the Seas guests are surprised and delighted throughout the day by a series of heart-pounding, aerial-acrobatic entertainment experiences in the four deck-high Centrum which also features the new retro R Bar. Guests enjoy choices from 11 different dining options on Radiance of the Seas and nine on Rhapsody of the Seas, including the Park Café gourmet deli, Izumi Asian Cuisine, Giovanni’s Table Italian restaurant, and the exclusive Chef’s Table, some for an additional cover charge.

Both ships offer bow-to-stern WiFi service, a refresh of all public spaces and updated staterooms with flat-panel televisions. An oversized LED movie screen overlooking the main pool provides entertainment to guests, and new Concierge and Diamond lounges on-board each ship further recognise Royal Caribbean International’s loyal Crown and Anchor Society members and suite guests.

Radiance of the Seas will alternate between North- and Southbound seven-night itineraries from Vancouver and Seward, respectively. Guests will cruise the Inside Passage and the monumental Hubbard Glacier, as well as call at Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska.

Radiance of the Seas’ Alaska season will start and end with a seven-night itinerary, sailing from Vancouver on 9 May 2014 and 5 September 2014, calling at Icy Strait Point, Juneau, and Ketchikan, and cruising up Tracy Arm Fjord to see Sawyer Glacier.

Rhapsody of the seas will sail seven-night cruises to Sawyer Glacier from Seattle, Washingston. Guests will cruise the Inside Passage and call at Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, British Columbia. Two similar seven-night itineraries that call at Ketchikan instead of Victoria will sail from Vancouver to Seattle on 16 May and vice versa on 29 August 2014.

Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas meets Legend of the Seas in Singapore

Details: Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 March 2013 25 March 2013

It was a historic day (March 23) for global cruise brand Royal Caribbean International whose two Asian-based cruise ships Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas both arrived at Marina Bay Cruise Centre Singapore in the morning and were berthed side by side for the first time here. Voyager of the Seas, the largest cruise ship based in Asia, was starting on her 8-night cruise to Shanghai while her sister ship Legend of the Seas was leaving for a 2-night Malacca weekend cruise as part of her Singapore season.

MSC Preziosa named in Genoa

Details: Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen; Category: More News More News; Published: 25 March 2013 25 March 2013

The latest unit in the MSC Cruises fleet, MSC Preziosa, was named in a ceremony by Sophia Loren, the actress, in Genoa in Italy on Saturday, March 23rd.

The event included a gala dinner prepared by a team of Eataly chefs and entertainment from top Italian and international performers in the company of celebrities, selected guests, media, authorities and the top management of MSC Cruises.

MSC Preziosa is the 12th addition to the MSC fleet and the fourth unit in the Fantasia class. Both the ship herself and Saturday’s event were inspired by the theme of preciousness, allowing guests to enjoy a precious first glimpse of MSC’s latest exquisite gem as she was unveiled to the world.

"This Saturday celebrated the launch of the MSC Preziosa: her sparkling beauty and outstanding features, from the longest single rider body waterslide on the waves, Vertigo, to the first two Eataly restaurants at sea," said MSC Cruises' CEO Pierfrancesco Vago.

"And at the very heart of the celebrations was not only this magnificent ship, but also the city of Genoa, MSC Preziosa’s new homeport and a key MSC Cruises homeport since the start of our expansion programme in 2003. This year, MSC is deploying nine ships from the port and, over the course of the year; nearly 930,000 of our travellers will embark, disembark or transit during a total of over 200 calls here."